Involve the media

Attracting media attention is key to the success of OT Week as it raises the profile of the profession and reaches a bigger audience 

Here are some tips on what you need to know:

• Make sure that you let the media know of any activities or events that you are planning for OT Week. The local media and community websites will always welcome news stories.
• Find out the name of a journalist who is interested in health and social care issues and send them an invitation to your event three weeks beforehand. Follow this up with a phone call a week before the event.
• The journalist will get in contact for more details if they are interested in attending.
• If the journalist is bringing a photographer, this is good news. The media is interested in your story.
• If you are hosting a journalist, make sure they are looked after at your event. Introduce them to key people and help them obtain useful soundbites and quotes.
• Do ensure that anyone speaking to a journalist is briefed and knows the key messages to be conveyed before your event. This will help them to report on your event and deliver the key messages correctly. 
• As part of the hosting, make sure the journalist and the photographer are looked after when they leave and ensure they have all the information they need to produce and publicise your story.

If you cannot entice a journalist to your event, you can still send a press release and photo.

• Download draft press release
• Download invitation letter to a journalist
• Download media interviewing techniques

Don’t forget to send information to your organisation’s newsletter and/or the editor of your intranet/internet!